A: Well, I would say that this album is probably the conclusion of my last three, you know, in all different ways. I would say that it’s closer to the sound that I always wanted to have in my albums, you know, it’s like this mix that I have been trying to find between folk music rock music. And I think now in this album the balance is probably more equal, I would say. And about the lyrics I think it’s a really direct album, a really realistic album.
2. Is this your most Columbian record so far?
A: Well, I will say yes. I mean, I think a lot of my albums have to do a lot with Columbia. But probably this one yes, because I use a lot of elements from the folk music, like accordion, the rhythm of Mapalé, Cumbia, Vallenato, so it’s probably yes more Columbian, but it’s also at the same time more rock oriented.
3. But what does Guasca, Vallenato and Cumbia stand for? What´s it all about?
A: Yes. Well, Guasca is a very typical rhythm from my region, from Antioquia. “La Camisa Negra” for example that’s Guasca, you know, it’s really kind of… and it also mixes with, it has a little bit of Cumbia, which is another rhythm that is like (makes a rhythm). And Vallenato, which is one of the most important rhythms from Columbia, is with the accordion, you know, it’s really happy music, really, really, happy music. I don’t know how to describe the rhythm, because it is so complicated, but it is one of the most important rhythms from our country.
4. So every territory has its very own rhythm and style?
A: Yeah, if you go to Columbia and you travel all around the country, you’re gonna find all different kinds of, I mean, a lot of different kinds of music, depending on the area. And it’s so rich, Columbia is really rich in music. If you go to the Atlantic coast, you can find, like I don’t know, 300 different kind of rhythms. If you go to the Pacific coast, you’re gonna find another 300 rhythms - it’s crazy. There is also Mapalé, another rhythm that I used in this album in the song called “Báilala” and that´s a rhythm that is from the Pacific coast of Columbia, but originally came from Africa. And it’s really like kind of a Jazz, Latin rhythm, it´s more like a Santana style. Seriously, I really like, you know, the way he plays guitar, his style and his sound. Actually, you know, when I was recording the album I was trying to have that feeling of the 70s in the sound, you know. It’s quite like the vintage sound that I like a lot.
5. Why is it that you stick to Spanish no matter what? And how important is that for you?
A: Well, I think, you know, for me to sing Spanish represents who I am, honestly. Like I am from Columbia, I still dream Spanish, I still think in Spanish, but I can play the guitar in English. And I think what makes the difference and what makes, I mean, like identity is the fact that I still sing in Espanyol, you know. And at the beginning when the record company asked us to come to Germany or to Holland to promote our music, it was like, I mean, I was like really… no negative, but I never thought there was gonna happen anything, because of the language. And then I realized that it’s always possible, you know, because in Latin America we always listen to Anglo music. We don’t understand the whole meaning of the lyrics, but we just love the music. So I don’t see why it can’t happen the opposite way. And I think at the end music is always gonna be the universal language. And I’m really surprised and happy and thankful with people here in Germany, because in some way they accept the music in Spanish.
6. Were you shocked when you found out about your success?
A: Definitely, man! I was shocked. And actually last year on tour, and it was wonderful, the most incredible time. I remember all people singing or trying to sing in Spanish and just accepting the music in Spanish, it was fantastico.
7. Well, you’re not part of the Latin movement, so to speak.
A: Well, I think I’m just coming from Columbia. But my music is not like… I mean, what happened is that most of the people in Europe think about Latin music as just one kind of Latin music. You know, like if you’re from Latin America you have to dance, you have to smile, you have to… but you know, Latin music is really about diversity. You know, it goes from Punk music to Reggaeton to HipHop to Rock to all different kinds of music. And I’m just singing in Spanish, but I think I’m coming from the other side of the river. I have another influence in my music.
8. Heavy Metal?
A: Yeah, probably one of those elements. Because I used to play metal music when I was a teenager, I started at the age of 14 or 15 years old in a metal band called Ekhymosis and we spent like almost ten years. (chuckles)
9. You did five albums with Ekhymosis...
A: Five albums, yes, yes. And it was a great moment, you know. But at the end I just felt that I was missing something about my essence, about my roots. So I just decided to back to who I was, and that I just wanted to bring those elements from rock that I really liked.
10. So if you listen to the old records today, how does it feel?
A (chuckles): It makes me smile to be honest, you know, in a positive way. It was a really fun moment of my life, and we just learned a lot, and we were just trying to find ourselves.
11. Are you going to re-issue those records on “4J”?
A: (laughs) No, I don’t think so, no, no.
12. Why forming your own label anyway? What’s the idea?
A: Well, the idea is just to keep promoting music from Columbia. It’s, you know, 15 years ago I was trying to find my opportunities, a lot of people helped me to grow up as an artist. And I think now if I have the opportunity to keep doing that with my friends, I will do it immediately. It’s not for the money, because there is no money actually, you know. It’s just a passion, it’s just a friendship that I have with them. So it’s a good opportunity just to see how Columbian music is growing up.
13. So you´ll be the big executive behind the desk?
A: No, no, I don’t think so. I will be more like an A&R for the company, because I don’t see… you know, at the beginning it was quite weird, because I didn’t wanna be on the other side of the business. It’s so weird, man, I don’t like to be there. So I just said to the record company: “OK guys, if you want me to work with you, I just will be an A&R for you guys, but then I don’t wanna see the other side.” (laughs) I just wanna let them know who I think has a lot of talent and then “you guys decide if you want to record it or not.”
14. Say, the album title is that like a lesson from your mother, from Dona Alicia?
A: Dona Alicia, yes. Well, eight months ago or something like that I was having a conversation with my mother because I was passing through a really difficult situation in my personal life. So she just said to me that everything in this life can fix it, but death is the only thing you can not change. “So why don’t you enjoy your life? Life is so, I mean, you will realize life is just a moment.” And she said it in Espanyol “La vida es un ratico”. So I just like it a lot, because it is something really simple and really true. So I just wanted to use it as a concept of this album, because this album in particular has more reason, more than idealism, is more… when you are face to face with fears, with problems, with reality, this is what this album is.
15. Then you have to tell me why, except for three songs, the entire album is about relationships? Are you an expert on that?
A (chuckles): Well, I don’t think so. I think I’m just learning about love or about how to love. But I think this album in particular is probably a little bit more personal, because I passed through this crisis with my wife, so most of the songs talk about this issue. So probably that’s the reason why.
16. So this is like therapy?
A: Well, yes. Well, music always is a therapy for me, yeah. It’s a really good way to take all my energy out of me, even if it’s good or bad, you know, and then just make songs about it.
17. However, there are two kinds of relationships on there. One is very happy, the other very sad. How comes?
A: Well, you know, when you are writing son gs for example, I mean this album: It took me like two years to write all the songs. So you know, I’m not all the time feeling the same, you know what I mean? It’s like at some point of the process I was in love and everything was OK, and then at some moment we broke up and we have this strong crisis and we get divorced. And then we just came back together.
18. You mean you got married for the second time?
A: Yeah. (laughs) So that’s the reason why the songs are different. Some songs talk about life and beautiful and what love is. And other songs – depending on the time that I wrote it – talk about the other side.
19. Does that mean you should take more time off for your family or even less?
A: (laughs) Well, it was weird, man, because when I went back to my house to have a year off, and then we just broke up (laughs). Well, I think it was like the circumstances of our lives, I don’t know. But I think now we are just trying to work more on our relationship. And we will try to spend more time together this time.
20. Will there be another 19 months of touring then? I mean, how do you do that anyway?
A: Well, I don’t know, man, to be honest I really love to perform and I really love music, and that makes me feel really excited. But sometimes when you get really mentally tired, like physically tired, and you don’t enjoy it anymore, then you have to stop. But for now I think it’s just about balance, just to have a balance between family and work and try to see if… I mean, there has to be a way.
21. Will you take them on tour with you?
A: Well, it’s difficult because my little girls are too young, they’re just two and four years old, so it’s not easy to take them with me. But I think now they are growing really fast, so I think for next year I will try to spend more time with them or just to bring them to some shows or some place. We´ll see.
22. But there is another tour coming up?
A: Yeah, definitely. Yeah, we will be touring, I mean promoting the album until the end of this year, probably January, February. And then we will start the tour in March. We will be starting in the United States, and then we will be coming to Europe in the summer, and then we will be going back to Latin America for the rest of the year.
23. Juanes, you have to tell me what´s it like to be considered a male sex symbol. Or is the whole Latin Lover thing just a myth?
A: It’s more like a cliché, you know. (chuckles) It’s not really like that, you know. We are normal people, it’s just that we have a lot of passion for life, and we just live really intense, we are really intense people. And we just fall in love, and then we just really fall in love, just really obsessive, you know. And for us, you know, like women is the most beautiful gift (chuckles), so I think maybe that’s the reason why. But it doesn’t mean that all Latinos are Latin Lovers, you know, it’s more like a cliché.
24. It’s the same as “every German drinks beer” obviously.
A: That’s the same thing or every guy from Spain is a torero (laughs) or every guy from Italy is Mafia, or… It’s the same thing, it’s not like that.
25. Let’s change the topic. There are some songs on the album that are quite different to the rest, to the relationship stuff. “Minas Piedras” for example, which is about landmines. How comes that is still such a big problem in Columbia?
A: Yeah, the problem is… We have been a in a really difficult situation since 1948 or something like that, more than 50 years of internal conflict. The beginning of the guerrillas and all the armed groups started with the idea of equality and of a philosophy of fighting for the rights of people. And then through the pass of the years they became just the narco-owners, they own the business now. So, you know, all the guerrillas they own the most powerful business, which is the drug business, so that means that they have a lot of power, a lot of money, a lot of weapons. So the internal conflict there is still really strong, but is more in the mountains, it’s not in the cities, you know.
26. And that´s why everybody is leaving for the cities?
A: That’s the reason why. And that’s also the reason why the landmine situation is still really difficult, because the guerrillas they are still planting these landmines to protect themselves, to protect their illegal farms, and also the ways they take the drugs out of the country. So there is a lot of civilian people that are becoming victims of landmines. There is more than 120.000 landmines in Columbia, which is a lot. And Columbia is the number one country in the world concerning landmine victims. It’s Columbia first, then Afghanistan and then Cambodia. And it’s something that probably most of the people in the international community don’t realize, you know. That is something really hard. What’s just positive now, is that now the situation is becoming more international which is important for us. Now Sarkozy from France is getting involved, also Chavez from Venezuela is getting involved, and also the Americanos are involved. So maybe now it’s like a good beginning of, you know, a process of peace, you know, maybe someday we will have that.
27. Well, you have a new government and a new president. Is that going to change anything?
A: Yeah, yeah, definitely. The whole country is having a positive transformation. The economy is getting better in some points, and security also is getting better. But, you know, the conflict’s still there, because the guerrillas are still there. But definitely there is a lot more control now, military control.
28. It just seems that South America is changing a lot because of the indigenous presidents now. Like Chavez and Sanchez.
A: Definitely, yes. And I think, you know, Columbia is really unique in its political way, because what has happened in Columbia is completely different to rest of Latin America. But probably at some point in the future, Columbia will be part of this kind of politics, like Ecuador, like Argentina, Chile, more socialistas, probably in some point.
29. The red South America, which the US is not too happy with?
A: Yeah, I think so. Columbia is the only country that is now with America. The rest of Latin America is against. But the thing that people probably don’t understand is that we really need the help, you know, from America now. Because it’s the only way we can fight against this problem, you know, it’s so complicated.
30. And that’s the reason why you stay where you are? I mean, you could say: “I’m leaving for Miami and just live there.”
A: Well, no. You know, for me it’s really important just to keep in touch with my family and my essence. I really love Columbia and actually now you can live in Columbia perfectly, it’s just like a normal country. I mean, it’s not as dangerous as people think it is, you know. Most of the people still think of the Medellin or Columbia from the 80s, but now it’s different.
31. I always thought, you know, like going to Bogotá you have to hire a private army to get around.
A: No, man, I drive my own car, I go to the supermarket, I go to the movies, I go to the restaurants, I go to the clubs, and people are so warm and so nice, it’s really good. And a lot of tourists are starting to visit our country. You know, of course, I mean there is some dangerous places like always, you know, everywhere. But definitely there is a new Columbia.
32. So will you enter politics one day or have you already done so?
A: (laughs) No, I don’t think so. I really love music, and I think from the music-side I can do more positive things. I’m not into any political theme, I’m just within the centre. And for me… I dream with peace, that’s what I am.
33. And that’s why there is a song like “Báilala” that´s saying: If we would dance some more, would we´d all be much more relaxed?
A: Yeah, that’s what I think about… “Báilala” for example is one of those songs that – I just mentioned that – we are like the way we are now, is just because it´s our fault, you know. Our hearts are totally corrupted, and we just have one way. And if we decide to dance our live, we have to dance, we have to, you know, accept as ourselves, that’s the only way we can have a cure for our souls.
34. Now you have to tell me how you got involved with Die Toten Hosen? How did you find out about them?
A (chuckles): Well, I think, you know, in the last 5 years I have been visiting Germany very often. So some night I was in the hotel room, I was watching TV, and I was watching a Die Toten Hosen concert, you know, and I just liked it, I just liked it a lot. And then the attitude of Campino, and then after it Campino was in the same TV show like me, because he was going to be honored for his social work, so I just, you know, got interested. And then two years ago we tried to approach Campino, and it didn’t work. And then one year ago when I was writing this new song, I was always thinking and asking the record company if there was a possibility to approach Campino to invite him to sing it. And then we’d sent the song and sent the lyrics in German, and he liked it and he accepted the invitation. And for me it is like a big honor, because of the importance that this song has on the album and also for me as an artist and as a person. And it is a song that talks about the difference between races, how we are killing each other just because of different colors on a flag, you know. Because all our leaders still invest a lot of money in arsenals, but they don’t care about people that are dying for different reasons. So it is kind of critical towards this world that we have now.
35. So you recorded that in a studio in Paris - instead of sending around tapes as everybody does these days?
A: No, no, no. We met in Paris, and we actually had a really good time, because we just spent like three or four hours recording the song. He sang in Spanish, and he did amazingly. And then he recorded a verse in German, and I recorded with him a couple of lines in German also. And it was great. And he came with this really positive energy, and he was really kind.
36. So how familiar are you with Die Toten Hosen then?
A: I have been listening to some records, I can’t pronounce the names, it’s impossible. But of course since the last time I met Campino I’m just trying to learn more about Die Toten Hosen. He told us the story, yeah. More than 20 years, right? It’s a long time.
37. If you look back on your career so far: Four albums in seven years, selling millions of CDs and being honored with several awards, that is really a dream come true, or?
A: Definitely, yes, man, it’s a dream come true. Because I never thought, you know, when I was in Columbia when I decided to move to Los Angeles I was so depressed and sometimes scared about the future. I didn’t know that all this was going to happen to me, of course I always dreamed, you know, but even in my most ambitious dream I never saw this. So for me it’s just seven years with a lot of surprises. And I’m really thankful to life, to God, to the fans. And now that, you know, I have the opportunity to break the language barrier, it’s even more incredible, so I’m really happy, really happy.
38. Is there a place where you keep all your awards?
A (chuckles): It’s so funny, but in my house, if you go to my house in Medellin, you don’t see anything about my career, not even a picture or a Grammy or nothing, it’s just like a normal house. All the awards are in the management office in Miami. But at some point in my life probably I will bring to my house, you know, maybe.
39. And then polish them all day long?
A (laughs): Well, I don’t know. You know, all these recognitions and awards are really important, but what really matters to me, what really is important to me is the support of the audience, you know. That’s the most important award for any artist, I guess.
40. You even got knighted in France. Can you call yourself a sir now? Sir Juanes?
A (chuckles): No, no, I don’t think so. I think it was just a really good opportunity to share another side of Columbia, and because of the exchange between France and Columbia through the music, they gave me this recognition, and it’s really important, definitely.
41. They also call you one of the most influential people in music these days. Are you the Columbian Bono?
A: No, no, no. I really love U2’s music, but I´m just trying to find my own way to make things.
42. So there is in fact a big difference between your media perception and the person you really are? Can you laugh about all the things that are being written about you?
A: Well, the thing is that I try to have my normal life, actually I have my normal life, you know what I mean? It’s like I have my family, I have problems, I work with my foundation, and sometimes people think that I live in another world. And I say: “No, I just live normal.” And I don’t like to pay attention to all those things, because I don’t wanna believe it’s true, I just wanna keep following my heart.
43. Meaning: Juan Esteban Aristizábal Vázquez is still alive? Is there no separation between him and Juanes?
A: Well, I don’t think so. I try to think that is the same person, you know, because all that is in my music, is the reality of Juan Esteban, you know. And Juanes, the artist, doesn’t exist if Juan Esteban doesn’t live, you know. And actually, you know, Juanes is an abbreviation of my name, because my father used to call me Juanes when I was a child. Because my name is Juan Esteban, but he always used to call me Juanes, you know. So then all people in my house and my friends at school, everybody started to call me Juanes, but I think it’s the same person.
44. But you refer to yourself as Juanes these days, or? Do you still use your long name at all?
A (chuckles): No, no, I think most of the people, most of my friends they always call me Juanes.
45. What is an Escopetarra?
A: Well, Escopetarra is a really cool project that a musician from Bogotá did two years ago, he is called Cesar Lopez. And he took one of the weapons that the guerrilla gave back to the government, when they were working this peace process negotiation, and then he took this weapon and he transformed it into a guitar. He just put strings and microphones to it, and then he called it Escopetarra, which is like the composition of those words. And actually it works perfectly, I use it at one of my shows actually. It’s like a weapon, like a fusil, with the strings and with the neck of the guitar here, so you can play and you can use it as an instrument of music.
46. So it really works?
A: It really works, yes. It’s really cool, because I think it’s a symbol of what the Columbian people want now. They just want to turn all these violent weapons into weapons of peace, into weapons of music, weapons of art.
47. Is Juanes an old day Hippie talking about love and peace?
A: I will say yes. I really believe in love, man. I really believe in love, and that’s the problem. I think that we just forgot about that. We just forgot about the real mission that we have in this life, it’s just we came here to learn how to love, and we forgot that. And that’s the reason why we live like this. Every time you see the newspapers, you can’t believe what is happening everywhere, man. What is happening with the Buddhists, you know, is so crazy. What is happening in the Iraq and Afghanistan, everywhere, I don’t know what is happening with the world, man. It’s because we just forgot about love and respect. And you can not…
48. Well, all these countries could be so rich due to their natural resources. Just imagine America putting all that money they invest into Iraq into streets, social security…
A: Education. That’s one of the most difficult problems that we have in Latin America, you know. It’s not about poverty, it’s about inequality, you know. There is some people that have a lot money and then the rest is totally, you know, poor people. And education is one of the most important things, you know. And in our countries doesn´t exist initial education, like the children from zero to five years old, they don’t go to school.
49. So there is no real school system?
A: Yeah, the first time that a child goes to school is when it’s five years old. But the first five years of their lives, you know, that are important to build the character and everything, they don’t have the opportunity, so they just go when they are five years old. I mean, people from outside of the cities, you know, the people of the mountains. And that is really bad, you know. So there is a lot of things that have to change.
